Pakistan Stresses Bolstering of Economic Ties with Iran

TEHRAN (FNA)- Pakistan seeks to expand economic cooperation with Iran, Pakistani ambassador to Tehran Shafkat Saeed said in a meeting here on Wednesday with the parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Chairman, Alaeddin Borujerdi.

The prospect of ties between Tehran and Islamabad is very bright and “Pakistan is determined to finalize the agreement on the trilateral gas pipeline project (Iran-Pakistan-Indian Peace Pipeline),” Saeed was quoted by Tehran Times as saying.

The envoy also stated that his country is prepared to improve security cooperation with Iran in confronting criminals in border areas.

Borujerdi, for his part, called for boosting relations, stating that the two countries’ potentials for expanding ties in various areas are greater than the current level.

The MP pointed to the various problems caused by bandits and drug traffickers in border regions, saying that based on the extradition agreement signed between the two countries, Iran expects Islamabad to act more rapidly in handing over criminals fleeing into Pakistan.

Turning to Afghanistan, he stated that Iran is opposed to presence of foreign forces in the country and believes that regional security should be maintained through the cooperation of the regional countries.

The West seeks to serve its own political and security interests through deploying forces in Afghanistan, the senior lawmaker stressed.